Montenegro Marks First Year of Independence

The tiny Balkan state of Montenegro is marking its first anniversary as a sovereign state, Monday.

On May 21, 2006, Montenegro held a referendum in which voters chose to end their state's alliance with neighboring Serbia - a split that formally ended the last union remaining from the former Yugoslav federation.

Montenegro's leaders say they are determined to align themselves with NATO and the European Union - a stance condemned by opposition groups who favor a continued alliance with Serbia.